Safe to swim? A town-by-town look at local ponds, pools

Looking for a place to cool off this summer? Here’s a list of swimming holes available for public use, both staffed and unstaffed, along with a look at where some drownings have taken place in recent years.

Looking for a place to cool off this summer? The Brockton area provides numerous swimming holes available for public use, both staffed and unstaffed, along with a look at where some drownings have taken place in recent years.

Before going to swimming areas, check the community’s website or call town hall or police to see if use is limited to residents only.

ABINGTON: The town’s public pool is located at Island Grove pond and operated by the Park and Recreation Department. Built in the late 1960s, the sand-bottom pool is estimated to hold 1 million gallons of water, according to the Friends of Island Grove.

The pool is staffed by lifeguards and open from late June to late August. Its water is tested four times each week and refilled with fresh water and new sand each spring.

A 19-year-old Abington resident working as a lifeguard broke his neck at the pool in July 2011. Nick Malafronte dove into the water and hit the sandy bottom head-first. He was paralyzed in the accident.

AVON: There is no public swimming available.

BRIDGEWATER: Lake Nippenicket, a 354-acre pond residents call “The Nip,” was once a prime destination for swimmers. But due to at least one drowning, the beach was filled in with rocks and closed to swimmers about 20 years ago, according to police. The lake still serves as a popular boating and fishing locale. There are no public swimming holes in town.

BROCKTON: Brocktonians have two community pools, which are supervised by lifeguards during hours of operation. The Manning Pool, 470 Forest Ave., behind the high school, is open 1 to 6 p.m., and the Cosgrove Pool, 250 Crescent St., is open 1 to 5 p.m. Neither has had any drowning incidents in the recent past.

No swimming is allowed in any bodies of water on public land, which includes D.W. Field Park and the portion of the Brockton Reservoir that extends into Avon, according to the Parks Department.

CARVER: There are no public pools in town, according to Kim Clark, chairwoman of the Recreation Committee. There are two ponds – John’s Pond and Sampson’s Pond. Due to staffing and budget issues, John’s Pond, the smaller of the two, is not staffed with lifeguards this summer, said Clark.

However, Sampson’s Pond is staffed with certified lifeguards, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, Clark said.

There has been one death by drowning so far this year at Sampon’s Pond, according to Carver Fire Chief Craig Weston. On July 4, a 47-year-old man was pulled from the pond, taken to the hospital and later died, Weston said.

Lifeguards don’t begin the season until after the Fourth of July, he added.

EAST BRIDGEWATER: People use Robbins Pond off Pond Street for boating, fishing and occasionally swimming, said Fire Lt. Keith McCartney.

Page 2 of 3 - “It’s not a very popular swimming area,” McCartney said. “There’s no lifeguards there, the campgrounds have been closed for several years, but you get an occasional swimmer.”

Robbins Pond has no set hours and has “no trespass” signs in the beach area. Residents often enter from another side to boat, he said.

McCartney could not recall any drownings at Robbins Pond in the past two decades.

EASTON: The town pool operates from noon to 6 p.m. during the week and noon to 5 p.m. on Saturdays, under the supervision of 10 staff members, eight lifeguards, a pool supervisor and assistant supervisor.

“Knock on wood, but there’s never been an issue,” said Anne Daley, program director for 10 years. “We have a phenomenal staff.”

MIDDLEBORO: The town has two ponds and one public pool.

Tispaquin Pond is not staffed by public lifeguards, said Fran Cass, superintendent of the Parks Department. It has been the site of one recent swimming death.

In 2010, a 12-year-old boy camping with his family jumped off one of the docks and drowned, said Fire Department Dive Master Capt. Glenn MacNayr.

Camp Avoda and Camp Yomechas, on the pond, both offer swimming lessons.

Along the nearby Nemasket River, two people were rescued when their kayaks capsized and one was hospitalized, also in 2010, MacNayr recalled.

The other local pond is Woods Pond, which is private.

The Peirce Playground Pool is overseen by the Parks Department. It is staffed with certified lifeguards and is never open with less than seven lifeguards, said Parks Department Programs Supervisor Joe Masi Jr.

“During a heat wave, we may have as many as 12 lifeguards on duty,” Masi said.

Swimming lessons are offered 10 a.m. to noon Monday to Friday, weather permitting. It also holds recreational swim sessions from 1 to 4 p.m. seven days a week, Masi said.

The YMCA on East Grove Street also offers swimming lessons, said aquatics director Colby Linkletter. The pool is open Monday through Friday from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Linkletter said the pool is always staffed with lifeguards.

PLYMOUTH: A local fire lieutenant was recently honored for his part in saving a teen who swam too far out at Micajah Pond.

Richard Massie was swimming with friends in May when someone tossed a tennis ball into deep water. The 15-year-old local boy gave chase, not realizing how deep and cold the water was. He was heading back to shallow water when, from onshore, Randy Kierstead saw him drop the ball and call to friends.

Kierstead, an off-duty fire lieutenant, swam out and helped the boy.

RAYNHAM: The town offers no public swimming, according to fire officials. Johnson’s Pond, while a welcoming summer hangout for fishermen and canoeists, is not open to swimmers.

STOUGHTON: Ames Pond is open every day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and staffed by eight lifeguards with at least four on duty at all times, said John Denison, recreation director.

“We’ve had events where lifeguards have had to respond to children in over their heads but never had any seriously hurt,” said Denison.

Denison said the pond is mostly frequented by families and some community groups for swim lessons held in the morning and recreational swimming in the afternoon.

WEST BRIDGEWATER: The town has no public swimming spots, according to the Fire Department.

WHITMAN: The only swimming location monitored by the town’s Recreation Department is the town pool, located in the town center. The pool is supervised by lifeguards when open. Swim team practices, lessons and family and public swim hours are all available. The pool is open 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturdays and 1-5 p.m. Sundays.

Police strongly discourage swimming in nearby Hobart’s Pond. In May 2008, divers found the body of a local man at the pond’s bottom. Police said at the time it was unclear if the drowning was intentional.